New Testament Divine Healing is a Gift of God through the Atonement of Jesus for the sins of the world. Isaiah 53 (the "Atonement Chapter) has this prophetic vision about Jesus Christ:
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for you iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV, emphasis added). 1 Peter 2:24 says the same thing.
Notice that, "by His stripes we are healed" and not "will be healed" - which means healings are already provided for anyone who believes.
Two New Testament Ordinances for Healing
1. Jesus said, "And these signs will follow those who believe .... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17, 18, emphasis added).
2. James said, "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5: 14, 15, emphasis added).
Notice that both these ordinances for divine healing are effective only through the exercise of faith in the Name of Jesus. In the case of anointing with oil, it is specifically stated that prayer must accompany this act. In the passage about laying hands on the sick in Mark's Gospel, no specific mention is made of praying. However, in most cases it would be natural to pray for the sick person, as well as laying hands on him.
Notice also that "the sick" in Mark's Gospel are not necessarily means only sick christians. In fact the ordinance of laying of hands on the sick, as set forth in Mark 16 is intended to go together with the preaching of the gospel to the unconverted. Healing is one of the miraculous signs (Mark 16:17) that follows those who go and preach the Gospel. Any believer sitting quietly in the pews and not "going" may not experience these signs.
On the other hand, the epistle of James is addressed primarily to professing Jewish christians. But the phrase "among you" would seem to refer to all believers who attend a christian church with elders. A sick person who made no profession of faith and was not associated with any christian church would not be included in the phrase "among you". Therefore, the ordinance of anointing with oil is intended primarily for those who already profess faith in Christ and are associated with some Christian church.
Two Important Lessons from James 5:14,15
1. God expects every sick christian to seek Him first, for healing through faith by spiritual means. This does not mean it is necessarily unscriptural for a christian who is sick to seek the advice or help of a medical doctor. But it is absolutely contrary to Scripture for any professing christian who is sick to seek for human medical aid without first seeking for divine help from God Himself, through the appointed elders of the church. All sick christians who do not seek divine help first before seeking medical help are guilty of direct disobedience against the ordinaces of God as set forth in the New Testament. In the face of this, any christian who falls sick and calls for the doctor, without calling for the elders of the church, is guilty of open disobedience. It is tantamount to saying to God: "I do not need You. I do not really believe You can help me or heal me. I am content to accept the best that man can do for me without seeking You for guidance or help". This prevailing attitude among professing christians is one main reason why so much sickness also prevails among them. God is the healer and it is not wise to close the doors of our home or churches against Christ the healer.
2. God expects every christian to associate himself with a church and that the elders of this church must know him and is known to him. These elders shall be ready to minister in faith, according to the Scripture, to the physical needs of their church members.
Notice that no believers can claim the fulfillment of Jemes 5 unless the church is a true church of Jesus Christ and the elders are true ministers who are called by God to take on the function and qualifications of elders.
How God ministers Divine Life and Divine Healing
Notice that there is no suggestion that the anointing oil used possesses any natural healing properties. Here, as in many other passages of Scripture, the oil is simply a type or picture of the Holy Spirit.
Thus, placing the oil upon the sick person represents the claim of faith on behalf of that person that the Spirit of God shall minister divine life and healing to his sick body. This claim is based upon a clear promise from God:
" But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11, emphasis added).
Here the phrase "to give life to your mortal bodies" means to impart divine life and power to the mortal, physical body of the believer in whom the Spirit of God dwells. The great agent of the Godhead who imparts this divine life is the third Person, the Holy Spirit. Sickness comes when a christian lacks divine life.
To be continued in the next message.
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